食

JLPT N5

Eat, food, meal, consume

Readings

On’yomi: ショク, ジキ (shoku, jiki)

Kun’yomi: た(べる), く(う), は(む) (ta(beru), ku(u), ha(mu))

たべる (taberu) – to eat くう (kuu) – to eat (casual / slangy) はむ (hamu) – to bite, chew

Structure

Strokes: 9

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Detailed Explanation

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Mnemonic

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Etymology

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Visual Tip

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Vocabulary

食べる

たべる

eat

食事

しょくじ

meal

朝食

ちょうしょく

breakfast

昼食

ちゅうしょく

lunch

食堂

しょくどう

cafeteria

Example Sentences

ご飯を食べます。

ごはんをたべます。

I eat rice.

食事の時間です。

しょくじのじかんです。

It’s mealtime.

朝食を食べました。

ちょうしょくをたべました。

I ate breakfast.

昼食にラーメンを食べます。

ちゅうしょくにラーメンをたべます。

I eat ramen for lunch.

食堂で昼ご飯を食べます。

しょくどうでひるごはんをたべます。

I eat lunch at the cafeteria.

Cultural Note

食 (food / eat) is deeply connected to Japanese culture:
1. Rice (ご飯) and meals:
o 米 (rice) is central to Japanese cuisine, symbolizing life and prosperity.
o Phrases like いただきます (said before meals) and ごちそうさまでした (after meals) reflect gratitude for food.
2. Formal vs casual eating verbs:
o 食べる – polite/common usage
o 食う (くう) – informal, often masculine
o Choosing the right word shows social awareness.
3. Food festivals and culture:
o 食文化 (しょくぶんか) includes everything from seasonal dishes, sushi, tea ceremonies, to street food.
o Festivals often celebrate harvests or specific foods — showing that 食 is not just sustenance, but part of community and celebration.
4. Idioms:
o 食う寝る遊ぶ (くうねるあそぶ) → “eat, sleep, play” (living life fully)
o 食わず嫌い (くわずぎらい) → “dislike without trying” (often used figuratively)